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Got here on a Sunday morning at 8:30am and there was a line out the door. Didn't take more than 20 minutes to walk away with our coffee and pastries though. Lots of different merch to look at while waiting for order- coffee beans, olive oil, delicious looking bagged cookie, biscotti, hot dog buns and kitschy toys. Pros- service was friendly , helpful and patient! Pastries were top notch. We've been hitting bakeries all over Carmel and Monterey and liked these the best. The cream bun and earl grey bun were our favorites with the cardamom bun and chocolate croissant a close second and third. The dough on all these had great layers which has been missing in a lot of the pastries we've had while bakery hopping. The sun-dried tomato and cheese scone was the best savory scone I've ever had. Coffee- I got a latte with half serving of the miso caramel bc I was worried it would be too sweet (I'm a flat white gal). It tasted perfect and went well with the sweet pastries. My family got iced lattes with the miso caramel and the tonka vanilla. They liked them but thought they were light on flavor. If fancy lad coffee is your priority then probably not the place for you lol. Cons- parking is of course challenging but same for every business around there. Seating is very limited so prob have to plan on to-go if there's a crowd. Nice that they have a few outdoor tables. We couldn't find seating for three so we dipped and crashed at a table outside a restaurant that wasn't open.
I came here around 3:30 and since they close at 4, there's limited selection of items left. I got 2 tarts and both were delicious. The crust is flaky and not too hard. The staff was friendly, allowing me time to look at all the baked goods before deciding. The best part is that they give me a loaf of imperfect bread for free. The bakery is not too big with all the baked good counter on the left and at the center of the room is a table with there logo items for sale. There's only a few stools to sit so definitely a to go place. Overall, definitely worth coming back again.
Each bite was so good! 1. Ad Astra is my favorite bakery in Monterey. They have a wide selection and each item is done well. 2. I came right at opening and tried a cardamom bun, kouign amann, rhubarb pain suisse, pain au chocolat, and a breakfast sandwich. My favorites were the rhubarb pain suisse followed by the cardamom bun. The pastries were crispy and flavorful and I especially loved the seasonality of the pain suisse. 3. The breakfast sandwich is made to order and all the ingredients are prepped in house. I enjoyed the chimichurri flavor and the textures of the egg frittata with the fluffy milk bread bun - would absolutely get this again.
Really cool airy bakery with open window into the bakery area to watch the delicious pastries and bread being made. Ordered the cardamom roll, almond croissant, and a Mexican style corn pastry (can't remember the name) For drinks got a cappuccino and vanilla latte. Everything was delicious,iI thought the cardamom was the star of the show. Perfectly flaky, sweet, and fragrant. Coffee was really good as well, iced vanilla latte was the best one. All recommendations from the servers behind the counter were great! Plan to stop in again next time we're in town!
Amazing food and coffee here. I went here while on vacation and cannot stop thinking about it. It was common to see a line out the door, but it moved fast. Grab the Danish sandwich if you want something with both richness and savory tastes. The creamy butter and cheese on a seeded roll just work; don't question it, try it.
We went to Ad Astra after popping into Alta Bakery to see their selection. We wanted to just get a small treat and a cappuccino and decided on Ad Astra for a number of reasons. My partner really likes pretzels and Ad Astra is finally making pretzels. I would normally get a cannele at Parker Lusseau but they are closed on Sundays. The vibe at Ad Astra is mostly take out since there's very little seating and it's not a pretty garden like Alta. (We realized later there's bar seating that faces the area where all the folks are kneading and baking.) The Ad Astra staff are absolutely hipster. The cannele was underbaked (runny inside) but the pretzel was outstanding. It was probably not authentic but tasted absolutely gourmet and we got the honey mustard for an extra dollar. The cappuccino was served in an adorable ceramic cup which made it tastier. All in all I would come back to Ad Astra for the eat-in plateware and pretzel. They do have a beautifully laminated French croissant and a kim chee pastry that I would like to try in the future. The kim chee pastry which normally flies off the shelf in San Francisco was not as popular here. Maybe not enough Asians? In conclusion if you're looking for a cannele, definitely go to Parker Lusseau. For more precious treats, I would go to Alta bakery. For an awesome pretzel and stuff served on heath-like ceramics I would go to Ad Astra.
Got an iced matcha latte and there wasn't too much matcha, it was more milky. But the pastries are perfect! Not too sweet!
These pastries were out of this WORLD. I don't remember the exact ingredients, but I got a savory danish and some kind of berry pain suisse. The danish was my favorite. It was the perfect way to end my trip in Monterey. The line was a bit long, but they were efficient and it moved along pretty quickly. It's very nice and clean inside, and it was really cool to see inside their open kitchen! The menu probably changes a lot, but the staff is super friendly and can tell you exactly what's in each pastry. Shoutout to the cashier who we found out from a quick chat graduated from UCSB the same year as me!
SO impressed by both the quality and variety of pastries. The cardamom bun is an absolute must! Friendly service, like moves quickly. Few patio seats outside and barstool seats indoors. 10/10 would come back again!!
If you know me, you're well aware that I enjoy a decadent pastry with my coffee. Ad Astra is the perfect place to find that and more. Located on Alvarado, Ad Astra is known for their sourdough bread which I can't recommend enough. You're greeted by the smell of fresh baked bread and you can even see the bakers in action making the bread for the day. At all times, you will find this place bustling and lively, there is counter seating inside and a few outdoor tables. With sleek a marble display and baking books/apparel throughout the store, Ad Astra blends minimalist with a unique collection to create a meticulously curated space. After seeing the large selection of goodies, I was very indecisive and the person helping me suggested fan favorites and the most popular. I got the almond croissant with a berry compote that I'm still thinking about. I'm very excited to try their carrot cake and cheesecake next time and maybe pick up a book on how to make their amazing sourdough myself.
I'm super torn on how to rate this place. I want to give it higher stars, because it was the only bakery I could find that had a legit chocolate chip cookie. How is it, that I had to go to 3 bakeries in that little area to find one? What bakery doesn't bake chocolate chip cookies!? Any way, I'll save that rant for another day. The cookie itself was pretty good / nice chocolate bits, and sea salt on top. Tasted like a solidly homemade chocolate chip cookie. Can't say it's in my top 5, but it hit the spot. The guy behind the counter was very kind and helpful, and so I appreciate him. Solid 5 for the help and a 4 for the cookie itself. The area where I really want to lower my rating is price... if there are any bakers out there, can you tell me if the price of baking has gone up so much, that a legit chocolate chip cookie should be $5? If I had a family of 4, it would cost me $20 for cookies!? The insanity. I just don't get it. I really hope they reconsider their cookie prices. I live down south, in Orange County, one of the most expensive places to live, and I have not seen a cookie for $5. In fact, one of my favorite cookies, found in Dana Point (in my top 5) is $3 a cookie. A large cookie, baked in-house, good amount of chocolate, sea salt on top, and delicious. I know we're at war, but come on... enough with the high cookie prices!!!
I absolutely love this bakery and their bread. In my opinion, they are far superior to Alta and the staff is way friendlier. I love the olive oil loaf with raspberry icing, their new concha with guava filled cream, savory scone, savory pie, and their daily sandwiches. I also really enjoy their olive loaf. It's one of the best I've had. Parking can be tricky, but it's worth the weight and usually busy on a weekend morning. The cinnamon roll is also a must try along with the kouign aman. The ambience is urban rustic. I would describe it as and has a small seating area inside and patio seating.
This place is phenomenal and truly a gem in the area. The moment you walk in, you feel like you are transported into a new place. From seeing the bread being made in the back, to seeing the various amazing pastries, to the smell. This is the place to be. They are quick, take care of you, and make sure to answer any questions you may have. It's a really nice little spot to people watch or have coffee and look outside the windows. I got the breakfast sando, which was delicious, cinnamon roll with strawberry, chocolate croissant, and a cookie. I highly recommend the sando and the croissant, way more magical than I could have imagined.
2 days ago
Outstanding breads and pastries served by friendly staff. I love the window view of the kitchen area where all the magic happens! Ad Astra offers classes on how to make your own sourdough bread- life changing for me. I had attempted my own sourdough starter for a few months, but could not achieve satisfying results. Since taking the class, I now enjoy amazing results with sourdough bread, galettes, focaccia and pizza crusts. Worth every penny and my time invested in that class taught by Ron, the owner. I love Ad Astra! read more
1 day ago
Man oh man! As someone from Southern California by way of the Midwest, I really love the sweets here. The Earl Grey cookie was delicious--light and soft, just as you might expect. I also tried the salmon sandwich. It was a little too heavy in flavor for me, but that's simply personal preference. The bread, however, is always fantastic. read more
Wowowowowww. Ad Astra, I will be thinking of you in my dreams. We actually ate at a restaurant in Carmel that had Ad Astra's grain sourdough bread and LOVED it. When we came to Ad Astra around 830am on a Sunday, there was a short line. We opted for the double baked chocolate pastry, hojicha with raspberry pastry and the kouign Amann because that is the basic, simple pastry that I feel gives you a good gauge of how good the rest of the pastries will be. Kouign amann: 3.5/5. I think this was solid, and the caramelization on the bottom of the pastry really gives it that extra mmmmph. I would definitely choose this over the regular croissant. Hojicha and raspberry pastry: 5/5. I absolutely loved this. If you've never tried hojicha, it has a slightly more earthy flavor compared to its green tea sista, matcha. If you're tired of matcha, check out hojicha. Anywho, the raspberry on the top slightly overpowers the hojicha. Hojicha is kind of muted. I kind of wish more hojicha flavors come through because it is a bit subtle, but still good. Double baked chocolate pastry: 4.8/5. If you love chocolate, hazelnut (they sell their own hazelnut spread, which is what I imagine is in this), and crispy pastries... this is for you. It has a chocolate cream on top as well. She's thiiiiick. She's sweet. She's indulgent. Wowee. I also love their logo! So cute. We walked to a nearby pastry shop (the one with the long lines... you can't miss it), but personally I think Ad Astra's sweets taste way better. See you in my dreams Ad Astra!! read more
Got here on a Sunday morning at 8:30am and there was a line out the door. Didn't take more than 20 minutes to walk away with our coffee and pastries though. Lots of different merch to look at while waiting for order- coffee beans, olive oil, delicious looking bagged cookie, biscotti, hot dog buns and kitschy toys. Pros- service was friendly , helpful and patient! Pastries were top notch. We've been hitting bakeries all over Carmel and Monterey and liked these the best. The cream bun and earl grey bun were our favorites with the cardamom bun and chocolate croissant a close second and third. The dough on all these had great layers which has been missing in a lot of the pastries we've had while bakery hopping. The sun-dried tomato and cheese scone was the best savory scone I've ever had. Coffee- I got a latte with half serving of the miso caramel bc I was worried it would be too sweet (I'm a flat white gal). It tasted perfect and went well with the sweet pastries. My family got iced lattes with the miso caramel and the tonka vanilla. They liked them but thought they were light on flavor. If fancy lad coffee is your priority then probably not the place for you lol. Cons- parking is of course challenging but same for every business around there. Seating is very limited so prob have to plan on to-go if there's a crowd. Nice that they have a few outdoor tables. We couldn't find seating for three so we dipped and crashed at a table outside a restaurant that wasn't open. read more
I came here around 3:30 and since they close at 4, there's limited selection of items left. I got 2 tarts and both were delicious. The crust is flaky and not too hard. The staff was friendly, allowing me time to look at all the baked goods before deciding. The best part is that they give me a loaf of imperfect bread for free. The bakery is not too big with all the baked good counter on the left and at the center of the room is a table with there logo items for sale. There's only a few stools to sit so definitely a to go place. Overall, definitely worth coming back again. read more
Each bite was so good! 1. Ad Astra is my favorite bakery in Monterey. They have a wide selection and each item is done well. 2. I came right at opening and tried a cardamom bun, kouign amann, rhubarb pain suisse, pain au chocolat, and a breakfast sandwich. My favorites were the rhubarb pain suisse followed by the cardamom bun. The pastries were crispy and flavorful and I especially loved the seasonality of the pain suisse. 3. The breakfast sandwich is made to order and all the ingredients are prepped in house. I enjoyed the chimichurri flavor and the textures of the egg frittata with the fluffy milk bread bun - would absolutely get this again. read more
18 days ago
Really cool airy bakery with open window into the bakery area to watch the delicious pastries and bread being made. Ordered the cardamom roll, almond croissant, and a Mexican style corn pastry (can't remember the name) For drinks got a cappuccino and vanilla latte. Everything was delicious,iI thought the cardamom was the star of the show. Perfectly flaky, sweet, and fragrant. Coffee was really good as well, iced vanilla latte was the best one. All recommendations from the servers behind the counter were great! Plan to stop in again next time we're in town! read more
Amazing food and coffee here. I went here while on vacation and cannot stop thinking about it. It was common to see a line out the door, but it moved fast. Grab the Danish sandwich if you want something with both richness and savory tastes. The creamy butter and cheese on a seeded roll just work; don't question it, try it. read more
We went to Ad Astra after popping into Alta Bakery to see their selection. We wanted to just get a small treat and a cappuccino and decided on Ad Astra for a number of reasons. My partner really likes pretzels and Ad Astra is finally making pretzels. I would normally get a cannele at Parker Lusseau but they are closed on Sundays. The vibe at Ad Astra is mostly take out since there's very little seating and it's not a pretty garden like Alta. (We realized later there's bar seating that faces the area where all the folks are kneading and baking.) The Ad Astra staff are absolutely hipster. The cannele was underbaked (runny inside) but the pretzel was outstanding. It was probably not authentic but tasted absolutely gourmet and we got the honey mustard for an extra dollar. The cappuccino was served in an adorable ceramic cup which made it tastier. All in all I would come back to Ad Astra for the eat-in plateware and pretzel. They do have a beautifully laminated French croissant and a kim chee pastry that I would like to try in the future. The kim chee pastry which normally flies off the shelf in San Francisco was not as popular here. Maybe not enough Asians? In conclusion if you're looking for a cannele, definitely go to Parker Lusseau. For more precious treats, I would go to Alta bakery. For an awesome pretzel and stuff served on heath-like ceramics I would go to Ad Astra. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
These pastries were out of this WORLD. I don't remember the exact ingredients, but I got a savory danish and some kind of berry pain suisse. The danish was my favorite. It was the perfect way to end my trip in Monterey. The line was a bit long, but they were efficient and it moved along pretty quickly. It's very nice and clean inside, and it was really cool to see inside their open kitchen! The menu probably changes a lot, but the staff is super friendly and can tell you exactly what's in each pastry. Shoutout to the cashier who we found out from a quick chat graduated from UCSB the same year as me! read more
3 months ago
SO impressed by both the quality and variety of pastries. The cardamom bun is an absolute must! Friendly service, like moves quickly. Few patio seats outside and barstool seats indoors. 10/10 would come back again!! read more
16 days ago
4 days ago
1 month ago
If you know me, you're well aware that I enjoy a decadent pastry with my coffee. Ad Astra is the perfect place to find that and more. Located on Alvarado, Ad Astra is known for their sourdough bread which I can't recommend enough. You're greeted by the smell of fresh baked bread and you can even see the bakers in action making the bread for the day. At all times, you will find this place bustling and lively, there is counter seating inside and a few outdoor tables. With sleek a marble display and baking books/apparel throughout the store, Ad Astra blends minimalist with a unique collection to create a meticulously curated space. After seeing the large selection of goodies, I was very indecisive and the person helping me suggested fan favorites and the most popular. I got the almond croissant with a berry compote that I'm still thinking about. I'm very excited to try their carrot cake and cheesecake next time and maybe pick up a book on how to make their amazing sourdough myself. read more
6 months ago
I'm super torn on how to rate this place. I want to give it higher stars, because it was the only bakery I could find that had a legit chocolate chip cookie. How is it, that I had to go to 3 bakeries in that little area to find one? What bakery doesn't bake chocolate chip cookies!? Any way, I'll save that rant for another day. The cookie itself was pretty good / nice chocolate bits, and sea salt on top. Tasted like a solidly homemade chocolate chip cookie. Can't say it's in my top 5, but it hit the spot. The guy behind the counter was very kind and helpful, and so I appreciate him. Solid 5 for the help and a 4 for the cookie itself. The area where I really want to lower my rating is price... if there are any bakers out there, can you tell me if the price of baking has gone up so much, that a legit chocolate chip cookie should be $5? If I had a family of 4, it would cost me $20 for cookies!? The insanity. I just don't get it. I really hope they reconsider their cookie prices. I live down south, in Orange County, one of the most expensive places to live, and I have not seen a cookie for $5. In fact, one of my favorite cookies, found in Dana Point (in my top 5) is $3 a cookie. A large cookie, baked in-house, good amount of chocolate, sea salt on top, and delicious. I know we're at war, but come on... enough with the high cookie prices!!! read more
3 months ago
I absolutely love this bakery and their bread. In my opinion, they are far superior to Alta and the staff is way friendlier. I love the olive oil loaf with raspberry icing, their new concha with guava filled cream, savory scone, savory pie, and their daily sandwiches. I also really enjoy their olive loaf. It's one of the best I've had. Parking can be tricky, but it's worth the weight and usually busy on a weekend morning. The cinnamon roll is also a must try along with the kouign aman. The ambience is urban rustic. I would describe it as and has a small seating area inside and patio seating. read more
This place is phenomenal and truly a gem in the area. The moment you walk in, you feel like you are transported into a new place. From seeing the bread being made in the back, to seeing the various amazing pastries, to the smell. This is the place to be. They are quick, take care of you, and make sure to answer any questions you may have. It's a really nice little spot to people watch or have coffee and look outside the windows. I got the breakfast sando, which was delicious, cinnamon roll with strawberry, chocolate croissant, and a cookie. I highly recommend the sando and the croissant, way more magical than I could have imagined. read more
This place is amazing!! We stopped here initially to get some bread for a client and ended up getting some lattes, breakfast sandwich and pastries. Their bread was amazing!! Coffee was great and the service was amazing. Definitely stop by here if you get a chance. read more
I have to say, of all my visits here, they have yet to disappoint me. I came down here on a dive trip for my husband and decided to just chill out in Monterey and decided to get myself a quality pastry which this establishments always provide. The line was long and I can see why from firsthand experience. I have now visited this place to the point where I am a fan. I do wish they have an app where they take online orders instead of me waiting in line. Quality of food:A++ Quality of service:A++ Price: $$ Comment: keep in mind, the price is a little higher than the usual pastry, but in return you get quality food read more
We came on a rainy Sunday morning, and there was a line out the door. There is minimal seating-- a few table tables outside and a few barstools inside. They were selling holiday cookie tins but $70 seemed a bit steep although the cookies were definitely gourmet looking. We got the $12 seeded sourdough and have been enjoying it at home this week either playing with butter and truffle salt, as grilled cheese, and roasted vegetable Panini-- yum! There is street parking. read more
Always a lineup at the bakery so if you want the best selection, make sure you get here when they open. Hot tip: pre-order in advance is a good option. From what I can tell the only way to pre-order is via phone there doesn't seem to be a web-based option. Very popular bakery, and for a good reason, the bread's here are excellent. Dominated by a sourdough based variety of breads, there are other options available. read more
2 months ago
16 days ago
Ad Astra never fails to impress. I must stop for us every morning that we are in Monterey. We typically stop in here, grab drinks and a couple of food items and then walk a little bit farther up the hill to get a quiche and sit in the garden of the Adobe. Wonderful food, friendly smiling service, and a great viewing window for their production bakery. You can watch them making all of the delicious things you are about to enjoy, or even buy a sourdough starter and try to re-create what they do at home read more
5 months ago
super cool bakery and cafe in the heart of downtown monterey. loved the variety of pastries and artisanal bread. family got the salami and chicken caesar sandwiches. they enjoyed it! got a pretzel for the kids and they liked it. the grapefruit cream bun looked interesting so i got that - reminds me of the cream bread at asian bakeries. i liked the grapefruit! kouign amann was good, but wanted it crispier. bought a seeded loaf to go and that was yummy! appreciated the patio seating and that the cafe also sold merch and other grab and go items. read more
So good I went every day I was in town, bought an extra loaf to freeze and take home across the country for the holidays. Their take on a ham and cheese croissant -- a Reuben with Swiss -- I dream of every single day. The way the cheese gets frico-y on edges and the lamination of the dough is so perfect....I can't describe how good it is. I got one every day. The cardamom buns are fantastic too and tasted like my childhood -- and not too sweet! I bought several extra to freeze and take home for my folks too. I'd go back to Monterey just for this anytime. read more
2 months ago
This is a beautiful bakery serving world class quality bread, pastry, and coffee. Unsure if the graphic tees are designed in house or not but that is also a unique offering of theirs! I like sitting at the booth looking into the large glass window watching the bakers work their magic, staring at the beautiful dough. Service is, like at all cool establishments, nonchalant and noncommittal, which is what i prefer and allows me to avoid eye contact thusly. They don't always have the same items every day so it's best to walk in without any particular pastries in mind. What is always expected is their high level of quality, that is always met. Even in the rain they still have lines. read more
Upon arriving in Monterey, my first stop was Ad Astra. A friend who lived in the area highly recommended trying Ad Astra - she insisted that they make the BEST bread. Ad Astra stood out among the other bakeries downtown because instead of embracing the rustic cafe aesthetic, Ad Astra was pristine and modern-looking. The pastry case was minimal and showcased an array of croissants, cookies, and sandwiches. The sandwich options available that day included a radicchio on french baguette, smoked salmon, and roasted eggplant - which I had to order. Served between hefty slices of seeded bread, the roasted eggplant sandwich was loaded with sweet and tangy eggplant-walnut dip, roasted eggplant, fresh basil, and creamy burrata. I split the sandwich with a friend, which was the right call because the sandwich was quite filling. After we devoured our halves, we agreed that we had just eaten one of the best sandwiches ever. I ended up getting back in line for a cold brew, which was the perfect pick-me-up. While I'm still dreaming about that roasted eggplant sandwich, I'd be just as willing to try their other sandwiches and bread varieties. read more
16 days ago
Every time I'm in the area I stop for their smoked salmon sandwich. Thats probably not the first thing on your mind walking in after seeing the pastries but if you're a savory person like me. It's a great filling breakfast. read more
AAAAAAAAAMAZING! I would honestly give it a 6/5 stars if I could. We went on a Sunday morning and there was a short line but definitely worth the wait. We ordered a sourdough loaf, 3 pastries, and a latte. All the pastries were good. The latte was decent (needed to be hotter in temp and a bolder flavor, but still good). The real winner was the sourdough bread! It's a good thing we were on vacay because it would be dangerous having this bread by home. The service was top notch and they explained the variety of their pastries. I love the vibe of the place as there is seating inside and out as well as a bar to see them work in the bakery. It was so satisfying to watch them fold the dough and get it ready to bake. The sourdough baker (my husband) was envious of how easy they make it look. The bread was seriously amazing! I can't wait to go back and get more loaves. The prices of the pastries were about $6 a piece and the loaf was $11 - so about on par with other bakeries. read more
What a fun place! They are centrally located in a very walkable neighborhood, they sell all sorts of fun goodies in addition to their yummy pastries and coffee. We decided to get some pastries to have a picnic at the aquarium. We got some lattes with yummy flavors (tonka?? Mind blown). The pastries were very flakey and flavorful with fun ingredient combinations. Service was fairly quick, and everyone was very nice. This is definitely a hip bakery vibe, which is exactly what we were looking for. read more
Popped in to grab some breakfast bites and a sandwich. We tried a croissant, kouign aman, chocolate chip cookie, salmon sandwich, and drinks. There was a decent line but moved fairly fast. There's a little space to eat inside but mostly a grab and go situation. Everything we tried was so good. Tasty, flaky, light, good texture, fresh, and would come back again. read more
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479 Alvarado St
Monterey, CA 93940
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https://www.adastrabread.com
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Ask the Community - Ad Astra Bread Co
Do any of your breads or menu items contain any soy by products or soybean oil? My partner has a severe soy allergy. Thanks
Hi Laura, We don't use any soy in our kitchen, thanks for asking!
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